Eric Dane, known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan (aka Dr. McSteamy) on Grey’s Anatomy, recently opened up about his departure from the long-running Shondaland series. In a candid interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, Dane revealed that he was struggling with addiction during his time on the show. Despite being sober for four years prior to joining the cast, he admitted that he was “fucked up longer than I was sober” while working on the ABC medical drama.
Dane attributed his struggles to the pressures of mounting fame, stating that actors who spend significant time on a show often become very expensive for the network. He acknowledged that the network ultimately made the decision to let him go, noting that he was no longer the same person they had hired. While Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, protected the cast fiercely, Dane acknowledged that he was likely fired from the show.
Introduced in Season 2, Dr. Mark Sloan met a tragic end in Season 9 after succumbing to injuries from a plane crash. Dane’s character was not the only one to meet a grim fate, as several deceased characters made a return in a Season 17 episode that aired in 2021. In this episode, Meredith Grey hallucinates her dead loved ones on a beach while battling COVID-19.
Before exiting Grey’s Anatomy in 2012, Eric Dane sought treatment for an addiction to prescription drugs. The actor developed this addiction following a sports injury, which ultimately led to his departure from the show. Dane’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges that come with fame and the importance of seeking help when struggling with addiction.
Eric Dane’s reflections on his time on Grey’s Anatomy shed light on the behind-the-scenes struggles that ultimately led to his departure from the show. Despite the challenges he faced, Dane’s willingness to open up about his addiction serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking help and taking care of one’s mental health.